Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has told a visiting Cuban delegation that his country has rebuilt its arsenal and the
armed forces are prepared to confront "the U.S. enemy", local news reports said Wednesday.
"Our military capacity is much better than in years past and politically we are also in better shape, as our relations with the Arab countries and the rest of the world
has improved immensely," Saddam said.
He made the comments late Tuesday to a visiting delegation of Cuban politicians who brought a message to Saddam from President Fidel Castro, the state news
agency INA reported.
"The battle continues on the political, economic and military fronts but we are confident in a final victory," he told his visitors.
Saddam also expressed Baghdad's support for Havana "against any U.S. attempt to harm Cuba" and blasted Washington's policy of providing funds for exiled
Cuban and Iraqi opposition groups.
The Iraqi leader took a swipe at neighboring Saudi Arabia and Kuwait which he accused of collaboring with the air campaign by the United States and Britain against
his country.
Both neighbors provide bases for the U.S. and British warplanes which patrol the U.N.-imposed no-fly zones over southern Iraq and occasionally strike at Iraqi air
defense sites.
